Office of the Historian

811.3395/11–449: Telegram

The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State

restricted
Seoul, November 4, 1949—6 p. m.

1362. Deptel 919, October 31,1 and Embtel 1346, November 1.2 During informal conversation with President Rhee November 1 Embassy officer pointed out substance Rhee’s remarks on St. Paul had been published all over world. Rhee appeared surprised and indicated some concern. In conversation with me November 3 he expressed regret his remarks had aroused so much interest. He wished me to know his thinking had not changed. He explained that in talk he wished convey idea he had no plan to move north today or tomorrow but that Republic of Korea would have to be prepared to fight and unify country by force if necessary. Present intolerable division, he explained, could not go on indefinitely.

At his conference with Korean correspondents this morning Rhee was queried about his remarks on St. Paul. He replied as follows (in translation): “At that time, I was not prepared to make a speech [Page 1094] before the Navy men. I gave them this opinion of mine accidentally. It seems that what I said at that time has been reported throughout the world. But this speech of mine does not mean any change of policy taken to date. We have reserved our opinion. Everybody should know that when this situation proves critical for us, we should take some decisive countermeasures. However, this does not mean an immediate attack on the north”.

Muccio
  1. Not printed; it requested the text of remarks made at Inchon on October 31 by President Rhee aboard the cruiser U.S.S. St: Paul on the occasion of the visit to Korea of the St. Paul and two destroyers, U.S.S. A. J. Isbell and U.S.S. Fechteler, October 29–November 1 (811.3395/10–3149).↩

  2. The text of this telegram read as follows:

    “President Rhee’s remarks on St Paul were extemporaneous. It understood their gist reported by US press services whose correspondents were present. Briefly, Rhee welcomed the Navy, expressed appreciation for US economic and military aid, declared US stood for democratic principles and had no imperialistic designs despite what Communists might say to contrary, asserted Soviet Union predatory and imperialistic power now occupying northern half Korea and entertaining designs on remainder Korea, declared Republic of Korea would fight to end against Soviet aggression alone, if necessary, but preferably with US and UN aid. Rhee termed Korea today ‘a body cut in half’ and went on to declare ‘we can’t live much longer this way.’ Rhee appeared to intimate force might be only way whereby Korean unity might be achieved.

    “Rhee has made similar statements on several occasions at his press conferences, but hardly in such forceful manner.

    “Substance of speech as reconstructed by several Embassy officers present will be airpouched.” (895.00/11–149)

    The substance of President Rhee’s speech was transmitted to the Department in despatch No. 703, November 7, from Seoul, not printed (895.001/11–749).

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